Patent GB-970864-A (GB)
Title: Utilization of energy of fissionable elements in chemical conversions
IPC: C01B32/40
Filed: 1960-10-28
Abstract: 970, 864. Reactors. SOCONY MOBIL OIL CO. Inc. Oct.28, 1960 [Oct.29, 1959; Oct. 30, 1959; April 22, 1960 (3)]. No. 37213/60. Heading G6C. In a nuclear reactor, the recoil energy of nuclear fission fragments is used to effect chemical reactions. The fission process may be either sustained by an external neutron source or be selfsustaining. The fission fragments are retained within the reactor to prevent contamination of the chemical conversion products. Temperature control of the process is effected either by the circulation of a coolent or by the removal of heat by the flow of the chemical reactants. The latter may act as a moderator for the fission process or a solid moderator may be introduced. As shown, Fig. 1, the vessel 10 contains a non-self-sustaining reactor for effecting the required chemical reaction on the fluids passed through the vessel by the pipes 66, 67. To maintain fission reaction, reactors are supplied from an outside source, not shown. Fluid chemical conversion products are passed from separator 68 to heat exchanger 78 to recovery system 83 from which the reactants are recycled by pump 65. The bars 100 in 10 may consist of enriched uranium oxide contained in particles of microporous alumina. Reactant hydrogen and the alumina functions as a moderator but carbon particles may be added. A coolant fluid is circulated round the space 25, for example, heavy water, molten bismuth or sodium, biphenyl, or a mixture of sodium nitrate, sodium nitrite and potassium nitrate. The fluid is passed through the heat exchanger 29 by the pump 28. The fission material is supplied from hopper 35 and passes the concrete shield 23, steel sheet 22 and graphite blocks 12 by conduit 34. Discharge is effected through 46 to the tank 47. Lock chambers 53, 90 are filled with an inert gas such as helium, carbon dioxide. The neutron flux in vessel 10 is controllable by the rods 111, 112 of boron or cadmium. The alumina particles are arranged so as to retain the fission fragments within the body of each particle and the gaseous fragments diffuse out. The particles are porous and may also be formed of siliceous earth, ceramic materials in gels of silica..The capture cross-section of the particles for thermal neutrons is below 10 barns and a catalyst may be added such as platinum or nickel. In a second embodiment, not shown, the fission reaction is self sustaining. The fluids to be reacted upon by the neutron flux pass downwards through the fission material to permit a higher velocity through the device without disturbance of the fission material. Control may be effected by adjustable rods of fissionable material. Examples of the chemical reactions effected by the arrangement and the conversion of methanol to diethylene glycol, ethanolhexane to butanediols, nitrogen and oxygen to their oxides, nitrogen and hydrogen to ammonia, carbon monoxide and hydrogen to methane, methane to hydrogen. In addition dehydrogenation, aromatization and dealkylation of hydrocarbons may be effected. U.S.A Specifications 2,384,941, 2,580,429, 2,580,806 and 2,856,367 are referred to.